Martha Kalifatidis shared a photo of herself at 16 weeks pregnant, showing how thin her battle with hyperemesis gravidarum has left her.
The former Married At First Sight star, who is expecting her first child with fiancé Michael Brunelli, posted the picture to Instagram Stories on Monday.
In the photo, the 34-year-old looks frail and pale, her clothes hanging from her noticeably thinner figure after shedding 10 kilos.
Martha Kalifatidis (pictured) shared a photo of herself at 16 weeks pregnant, showing how thin her battle with hyperemesis gravidarum has left her
She revealed in her caption that she is now 16 weeks into a difficult pregnancy that has left her so ill she has not been able to leave her bed for months.
Martha and Michael announced last week that they are expecting their first child together and explained that the reason for Martha’s absence from social media is that she has hyperemesis gravidarum, which causes prolonged and excessive nausea and vomiting in pregnant women.
The reality star went offline for several weeks, prompting concerns for her wellbeing.
In the photo, the 34-year-old looks frail and pale, her clothes hanging from her noticeably thinner figure after shedding 10 kilos. She is pictured before and after
The couple explained they will have to wait until Martha is feeling better and has reached a safe point in her pregnancy before sharing their news.
“We wanted to explain our situation and make a little announcement. Martha is pregnant,” Michael said in the video.
“It wasn’t that exciting, wonderful time for us. I don’t want to sound like I’m complaining,’ Martha added.
She revealed in her caption that she is now 16 weeks into a difficult pregnancy that has left her so ill she has not been able to leave her bed for months
“I was so sick. I couldn’t eat or drink anything. There were days when I didn’t even get up to pee. I lost ten pounds in five weeks. We’ve been in and out of the ER and the hospital,” she explained
“I was so sick. I couldn’t eat or drink anything. There were days when I didn’t even get up to pee. I lost ten pounds in five weeks.
“We’ve been in and out of the ER and the hospital.”
Martha then said she felt better thanks to a doctor she saw in Melbourne.
“She gave me medication that literally changed my life. It helps me feel human again,” she said.
Martha and Michael (right) announced last week that they are expecting their first child together and took to social media to explain the reason for Martha’s absence because she has hyperemesis gravidarum, which causes prolonged and excessive nausea and vomiting in pregnant women
The couple also shared harrowing videos of Martha’s multiple hospital and doctor visits.
“I don’t know, Michael, if I’ll survive,” Martha says in a clip, to which her future husband replies, “You will.”
‘I do not know. I don’t know if I want to do this. I don’t know if I can do that,” Martha continues.
“I don’t know how you feel,” he says. “But we will get through it.”
The couple also shared harrowing videos of Martha’s multiple hospital and doctor visits
In one clip, the couple sits in a room talking about Martha’s excruciating pain as she begins to doubt herself. “I don’t know if I want to do this. I don’t know if I can do it,” she says
In his caption, Michael expressed his grief and admitted he had felt “utterly helpless” during Martha’s illness.
He said Martha had been “in bed 24 hours a day for most of the last 10 weeks, dehydrated, nauseated, vomiting, restless, tired, anxious, exhausted and unable to sleep or eat properly.”
Despite visiting the hospital several times, receiving medical advice and being prescribed various medications, she still suffers from the disease.
“But she’s a bloody warrior! And so it is with every other woman diagnosed with HG [hyperemesis gravidarum] or any pregnancy-related condition,” Michael added.
What is hyperemesis gravidarum?
Hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) is a condition that causes prolonged and excessive vomiting during pregnancy.
Sufferers may be sick many times each day and unable to keep food or water down, affecting their daily lives.
It is unlikely to harm the baby, but if it causes a woman to lose weight during pregnancy, there is an increased risk that her baby will be low birth weight.
It differs from nausea during pregnancy – often referred to as morning sickness – which is normal and affects eight out of ten pregnant women. For most, this stops or improves around weeks 16 to 20.
Meanwhile, HG may not get better at this point and may continue until the baby is born.
Symptoms of HG include persistent and severe nausea and vomiting, dehydration, weight loss, and low blood pressure.
Dehydration increases the risk of a blood clot – deep vein thrombosis – but this is rare.
It’s not clear what causes the condition or why some women get it and others don’t.
Some experts believe this could be related to changing hormones in the body during pregnancy.
And there is some evidence that it runs in families and women who have suffered it during their first pregnancy are more likely to have it in all subsequent pregnancies.
Women suffering from HG may be given medications to improve their symptoms, such as anti-nausea medication, vitamins B6 and B12, and steroids.
Some women need to be hospitalized if their nausea cannot be controlled with home medication.
You may need fluids and anti-nausea medication, which will need to be given via an IV.
Source: NHS